Traditional cultural symbols are increasingly being used to boost local tourism. Some people support this move as they believe that their local cultures can be perpetuated in this way; however, other people argue that making money from cultural traditions will eventually destroy their indigenous culture. In my opinion, culture based tourism protects rather than destroy traditional cultures and values.
Integrating traditional cultural aspects with local tourism provides greater exposure to these cultures. To be specific, by showcasing indigenous activities, handcrafts and artworks in front of international travellers, local residents are actually putting their own cultures under the spotlight of the whole world. This will help spread their culture all over the world and more and more people will be interested in visiting those holiday destinations which are famous for the exotic cultural experiences they provide. This will not only boost local culture and traditions, but also help local artists and artisan earn a better livelihood. For example, this is a great way to promote local art and dance forms that may be losing popularity among the native audience.
On the other hand, over exploitation of cultural traditions for the sake of tourism may inevitably cause issues. If the local culture is coarsely adapted to suit the purpose of tourism, the tourist experience is compromised and this may actually show the culture in a bad light. For example, when I was travelling in Yunnan Province in the Southwest China, I took part in a cultural experience tour so as to know more about the local culture. However, the tour was poorly designed and all participants were made to buy local handicrafts. It left a negative impression on me and I will not recommend this place to any of my friends. In other words, for many destinations, the merging / amalgamation of culture and tourism is doing more harm than good.
In conclusion, there is no harm in using culture to promote tourism. It not only enhances the reputation of the country, but also provides a livelihood to local artists. However, it is essential to do this in an aesthetic manner so that the effect is not counterproductive.
Traditional
cultural
symbols are
increasingly
being
used
to boost
local
tourism
.
Some
people
support this
move
as they believe that their
local
cultures
can
be perpetuated
in this way;
however
, other
people
argue that making money from
cultural
traditions will
eventually
destroy
their indigenous
culture
. In my opinion,
culture
based
tourism
protects
rather
than
destroy
traditional
cultures
and values.
Integrating traditional
cultural
aspects with
local
tourism
provides greater exposure to these
cultures
. To be specific, by showcasing indigenous activities, handcrafts and artworks in front of international
travellers
,
local
residents are actually putting their
own
cultures
under the spotlight of the whole world. This will
help
spread their
culture
all over the world and more and more
people
will
be interested
in visiting those holiday destinations which are
famous
for the exotic
cultural
experiences they provide. This will not
only
boost
local
culture
and traditions,
but
also
help
local
artists and artisan earn a better livelihood.
For example
, this is a great way to promote
local
art and dance forms that may be losing popularity among the native audience.
On the other hand
, over exploitation of
cultural
traditions for the sake of
tourism
may
inevitably
cause issues. If the
local
culture
is
coarsely
adapted to suit the purpose of
tourism
, the tourist experience
is compromised
and this may actually
show
the
culture
in a
bad
light.
For example
, when I was travelling in Yunnan Province in the Southwest China, I
took part
in a
cultural
experience tour
so as to
know more about the
local
culture
.
However
, the tour was
poorly
designed and all participants
were made
to
buy
local
handicrafts. It
left
a
negative
impression on me and I will not recommend this place to any of my friends.
In other words
, for
many
destinations, the merging / amalgamation of
culture
and
tourism
is doing more harm than
good
.
In conclusion
, there is no harm in using
culture
to promote
tourism
. It not
only
enhances the reputation of the country,
but
also
provides a livelihood to
local
artists.
However
, it is essential to do this
in an aesthetic manner
so
that the effect is not counterproductive.